Doctoral Programme on Drug Research and Diagnostics

About this programme

The doctoral researchers of Doctoral Programme on Drug Research and Diagnostics (DRD) carry out their doctoral studies at the Faculty of Medicine (PhD; MD, Phd; DDS, PhD), the Faculty of Science (PhD), or the Faculty of Technology [PhD, D.Sc. (Technology)] and follow the degree requirements of their own Faculty. Doctoral researchers in the DRD programme conduct their research as part of research groups at the University of Turku. The university hosts numerous high-level research groups that focus on identifying and validating new drug targets, developing drug molecules targeting these, creating diagnostic methods to measure their effects, and related methods in drug development. Following research on the identification and validation of drug targets, further studies related to drug development typically include the characterization of the pharmacological properties of new drug molecules, investigations of their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, toxicological assessments, and clinical pharmacology studies. The programme also includes research related to the development of in vitro diagnostic methods and other monitoring techniques used in healthcare, ranging from identifying biomarkers to the research on reporter technologies and bioaffinity reagents as well as to the development and validation of assay concepts and systems. Diagnostic pharmaceuticals, such as drug molecules used as markers, must by law be studied in the same way as therapeutic drugs, and their research is also part of the doctoral programme. DRD training comprehensively covers all phases of research, from defining research objectives to identifying drug targets and diagnostic biomarkers, and extends to the development of pharmaceutical and diagnostic products. The goal is to educate doctoral researchers into specialized experts in these areas, while also providing them with a broader understanding of the field, The development of medicines and diagnostic products, as well as drug research itself, are strictly regulated by national and international guidelines, and introduction to such regulations is part of the DRD curriculum. In DRD doctoral programme you can complete a Doctor of Odontology, Medical Sciences or Philosophy degree in the Faculty of Medicine, a Doctor of Philosophy degree in the Faculty of Science, or a Doctor of Science (Technology) or Philosophy degree in the Faculty of Technology. The website of the programme can be found at https://www.utu.fi/en/research/utugs/doctoral-programme-on-drug-research-and-diagnostics